Francis Ngannou Confirms MMA Return Against Philipe Lins on Netflix's Rousey vs. Carano Undercard

Francis Ngannou is scheduled to make his highly anticipated MMA return against fellow UFC veteran Philipe Lins. This significant bout will take place on the undercard of the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event, set to stream live on Netflix.

Despite a period of inactivity, 'The Predator' continues to captivate MMA fans with every fight announcement. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion, who famously vacated his title rather than losing it in the octagon, later ventured into professional boxing, delivering a surprising performance against Tyson Fury. More recently, he secured the PFL Heavyweight Super Fights championship in his promotional debut.

After more than a year without a scheduled fight in the PFL SmartCage, Ngannou announced his return to mixed martial arts via social media. He revealed he would be facing Philipe Lins as part of the star-studded Netflix event.

In a video confirmation, Ngannou stated, "Rumors are true... I'm joining the Rousey vs. Carano MMA fight on Netflix. I'll be entering the cage to fight Philipe Lins from Brazil."

This will be a five-round, five-minute bout featuring two formidable knockout artists. With a combined 30 finishes in their MMA careers, the clash between Ngannou and Lins is widely expected to conclude without the need for judges.

While focused on his immediate opponent, Ngannou also hinted at future aspirations, suggesting that a victory over Lins could pave the way for a potential showdown with Jake Paul. Ngannou added, "MVP is the promoter. So, who knows, maybe this means I'm one step closer [to] knocking out Jake Paul too. But first things first. Catch me on Saturday, May 16, on Rousey vs. Carano, live on Netflix."

Philipe Lins also shared his thoughts on the announcement, expressing his excitement for the monumental event. Lins stated, "I'll be battling sports legend, Francis Ngannou, in Netflix's first-ever MMA event, Rousey vs. Gina Carano, which will take place on Saturday, May 16, live and exclusive on Netflix."

He further invited fans to witness this "great, historical event" on May 16, expressing his hope for their support for this exclusive Netflix broadcast.